SCO Family of Services
YOUTH PEER ADVOCATE (SERVICE PROVIDER)- CFTSS
SCO Family of Services, Huntington Station, New York, United States, 11750
YOUTH PEER ADVOCATE (SERVICE PROVIDER)- CFTSS
Note: Youth Peer Advocates are individuals between 18-30 years of age who self-identify as a person with first-hand experience with a social, emotional, medical, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges as a young person or have received services in any one of the child-serving systems (juvenile justice, foster care, special education, or addiction recovery). YPAs use their lived experience to promote resiliency, recovery, wellness, and self-efficacy in young people and promote the practice of youth-guided and family-driven approaches.
Specific Responsibilities
Skill Building: Developing skills for coping with and managing psychiatric symptoms, trauma, and substance use disorders
Developing skills for wellness, resiliency, and recovery support
Developing skills to independently navigate the service system
Developing goal-setting skills
Building community living skills
Coaching: Enhancing resiliency/recovery oriented attitudes, i.e., hope, confidence, and self-efficacy
Promoting wellness through modeling
Providing mutual support, hope, reassurance, and advocacy that include sharing one's own "personal recovery/resiliency story" as the Youth Peer Advocating (YPA) deems appropriate as beneficial to both the youth and themselves
YPA may also share their recovery with parents to engage parents and help them “see” youth possibilities for future in a new light
Engagement, Bridging, And Transition Support: Acting as a peer partner in transitioning to different levels of care and into adulthood; helping youth understand what to expect and how and why they should be active in developing their plan of care and natural supports
Self-Advocacy, Self-Efficacy, And Empowerment: Developing, linking, and facilitating the use of formal and informal services, including connection to peer support groups in the community
Serving as an advocate, mentor, or facilitator for resolution of issues
Assisting in navigating the service system including assisting with engagement and bridging during transitions in care
Helping youth develop self-advocacy skills (e.g., may attend a Committee on Preschool or Special Education meeting with the youth and parent, coaching the youth to articulate his educational goals)
Assisting youth with gaining and regaining the ability to make independent choices and assist youth in playing a proactive role in their own treatment (assisting/mentoring them in discussing questions or concerns about medications, diagnoses or treatment approaches with their treating clinician). The YPA guides the youth to effectively communicate their individual perspective to providers and families
Assisting youth in developing skills to advocate for needed services and benefits and seeking to effectively resolve unmet needs. Assisting youth in understanding their plan of care and help to ensure the plan is person/family centered
Community Connections And Natural Supports: Connecting youth to community resources and services. The YPA may accompany youth to appointments and meetings for the purpose of mentoring and support but not for the sole purpose of providing transportation for the youth
Helping youth develop a network for information and support from others who have been through similar experiences, including locating similar interest programs, peer-run programs, and support groups
Facilitating or arranging youth peer resiliency/recovery support groups. Development and updating of service plans, including obtaining medical consenter signatures
Obtaining consents and enrollment documents for newly enrolled children/youth
Attend monthly waiver service provider meetings to stay current on practices and protocols
Submit progress notes, service plans, expense logs, and service provider logs within set forth-required timeframes. Progress notes are due within 3 days of service provision so that approval from supervisor is completed by the 5th business day following service provision
Report incident(s) to supervisor upon discovery
Maintain open communication with other service providers (e.g., Care Manager) to report on child/youth’s progress and identify any potential barriers and referrals
Setting Of Service Provision: YPST can occur in a variety of settings including community locations where the youth lives, works, attends school, engages in services, and/or socializes
Qualifications - External
Be at least eighteen (18) years of age with a High School Diploma/GED or equivalent; BA degree preferred; good verbal and written communication skills
Experience working with seriously emotionally disturbed youth or children/ job related or volunteer
Valid New York State Driver’s License
Acceptable clearance checks for State Central Register, Driver license and fingerprinting as required by the program
Compliance with health regulations for physical/mantoux testing
Seniority level
Entry level
Employment type
Part-time
Job function
Other
Industries
Individual and Family Services
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Specific Responsibilities
Skill Building: Developing skills for coping with and managing psychiatric symptoms, trauma, and substance use disorders
Developing skills for wellness, resiliency, and recovery support
Developing skills to independently navigate the service system
Developing goal-setting skills
Building community living skills
Coaching: Enhancing resiliency/recovery oriented attitudes, i.e., hope, confidence, and self-efficacy
Promoting wellness through modeling
Providing mutual support, hope, reassurance, and advocacy that include sharing one's own "personal recovery/resiliency story" as the Youth Peer Advocating (YPA) deems appropriate as beneficial to both the youth and themselves
YPA may also share their recovery with parents to engage parents and help them “see” youth possibilities for future in a new light
Engagement, Bridging, And Transition Support: Acting as a peer partner in transitioning to different levels of care and into adulthood; helping youth understand what to expect and how and why they should be active in developing their plan of care and natural supports
Self-Advocacy, Self-Efficacy, And Empowerment: Developing, linking, and facilitating the use of formal and informal services, including connection to peer support groups in the community
Serving as an advocate, mentor, or facilitator for resolution of issues
Assisting in navigating the service system including assisting with engagement and bridging during transitions in care
Helping youth develop self-advocacy skills (e.g., may attend a Committee on Preschool or Special Education meeting with the youth and parent, coaching the youth to articulate his educational goals)
Assisting youth with gaining and regaining the ability to make independent choices and assist youth in playing a proactive role in their own treatment (assisting/mentoring them in discussing questions or concerns about medications, diagnoses or treatment approaches with their treating clinician). The YPA guides the youth to effectively communicate their individual perspective to providers and families
Assisting youth in developing skills to advocate for needed services and benefits and seeking to effectively resolve unmet needs. Assisting youth in understanding their plan of care and help to ensure the plan is person/family centered
Community Connections And Natural Supports: Connecting youth to community resources and services. The YPA may accompany youth to appointments and meetings for the purpose of mentoring and support but not for the sole purpose of providing transportation for the youth
Helping youth develop a network for information and support from others who have been through similar experiences, including locating similar interest programs, peer-run programs, and support groups
Facilitating or arranging youth peer resiliency/recovery support groups. Development and updating of service plans, including obtaining medical consenter signatures
Obtaining consents and enrollment documents for newly enrolled children/youth
Attend monthly waiver service provider meetings to stay current on practices and protocols
Submit progress notes, service plans, expense logs, and service provider logs within set forth-required timeframes. Progress notes are due within 3 days of service provision so that approval from supervisor is completed by the 5th business day following service provision
Report incident(s) to supervisor upon discovery
Maintain open communication with other service providers (e.g., Care Manager) to report on child/youth’s progress and identify any potential barriers and referrals
Setting Of Service Provision: YPST can occur in a variety of settings including community locations where the youth lives, works, attends school, engages in services, and/or socializes
Qualifications - External
Be at least eighteen (18) years of age with a High School Diploma/GED or equivalent; BA degree preferred; good verbal and written communication skills
Experience working with seriously emotionally disturbed youth or children/ job related or volunteer
Valid New York State Driver’s License
Acceptable clearance checks for State Central Register, Driver license and fingerprinting as required by the program
Compliance with health regulations for physical/mantoux testing
Seniority level
Entry level
Employment type
Part-time
Job function
Other
Industries
Individual and Family Services
#J-18808-Ljbffr